Actuator device



Feb. 26, 1963 R. D. EMERY 3,078,733

ACTUATOR DEVICE Filed NOV. 13, 1959 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. Rosem- D. EMERY fia 3 BY 7M1,

Arron/v5 YS Feb. 26, 1963 R. D. EMERY 3,07

ACTUATOR DEVICE Filed NOV. 13, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mg 23- /5 45 4844 4 3 47 i N WWW M I- fiafl T E- I) I I i 20 550 63 64 [i434 7 H 1 .1 5 /7 m 5 WWW 36 I 0 2/ 75 /4 l l/ AIII- I II IN V EN TOR. Rose/er D. EMER Y BYW k J '19 A TTORNE Y5 Ohio Filed Nov. 13, 1959, Ser. No. 852,838 6 Claims. (Cl. 74-128) This invention relates to actuator devices for step-bystep rotation of elements such as control stems of switches, valves or other stem controlled devices, and it is an object of the invention to provide a novel actuator device having push-buttons for selectively rotating an element by steps in either direction.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of an actuator device of the above mentioned character having push-button ratchet means eifective to rotate a disk-like element or star wheel a fraction of a turn for each reciprocation of a push-button through a power stroke and a return stroke, the device preferably having one push-button controlling rotation of the star wheel in one direction and another push-button controlling rotation in the other direction.

Still another object is the provision, in a novel position selecting ratchet-type actuator for stepping a shaft or stem to diiierent rotative positions, of spring biased T-shaped pawls carried by push-buttons and arranged for limited swinging movement with respect thereto, so that the pawls are effective to act against a star wheel during power strokes of the push-buttons and to ride over the star wheel during return strokes of the push-buttons, and in which the pawls are disposed outside of the circumference of the star wheel and out of engagement therewith when the push-buttons are in their rest positions so that rotation of the star wheel by one of the pawls will be free of opposition by the other of the pawls.

As another object of the invention aims to provide a novel two-direction ratchet device which is sturdy and reliable in use, which is easily assembled and smooth in operation, and which is readily manufactured to exhibit these qualities without undue attention to manufacturing tolerances.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment thereof described with reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an actuator device embodying the present invention with the indicator wheel removed,

FIG. 2 is a front elevation of the actuator device of FIG. 1 showing the same with a variable position switch to be actuated thereby,

FIG. 3 is a side elevation of the actuator device,

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view illustrating the ratchet means of the invention and taken along the section line 4-4 of FIG. 1,

FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the relationship of parts at a given time during the operation of the device,

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of one of the push buttons,

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of one of the T-shaped pawls, and

PEG. 8 is a plan view of the star wheel.

Although the actuator device 1d of this invention is susceptible of various modifications and may be put to a variety of uses, the embodiment described herein is particularly useful for actuating stem controlled devices such as electric switches, valves or the like and is illustrated and described hereafter in conjunction with a representative switch 11.

The actuator device 10 comprises a body or housing rent the

including a base member 14 and a cover member 15 and in which a pair of push-buttons 17 and 18 are reciprocably mounted in a side-by-side relation. The switch 11 is secured to the base member 14, as by screws 19, and has a stem 21) which extends through the actuator housing and is engaged therein by a disk-like element or star wheel 21. The housing has opening means providing parallel guideway portions on opposite sides of the rotation axis of the wheel 21 and in which the push-buttons 17 and 18 are reciprocably operable. The push-buttons 17 and 18 form part of ratchet means for rotating the star wheel 21, and the stem 2% of the switch 11, in a step-bystep manner and in either direction of rotation. An indicator wheel or dial 23 is mounted for rotation with the stem 26' and has markings thereon such as numbers or the like which serve to indicate the rotative position of the stern of the switch 11.

The ratchet mechanism of which the push-buttons 17 and 18 form a part, and which will be described in detail hereafter, is effective to rotate the stem 20 a fraction of a turn in a clockwise direction, when viewed as illustrated in FIG. 1, upon the reciprocation of the push-button 17. Upon each reciprocation of the push-button 18 the stem 2t? will be rotated a fraction of a turn in a counterclockwise direction. The stem 2t) may thus be selectively rotated by repeated steps in either direction.

The actuator device may be advantageously used for operating switches, or controls of/automobile air conditioning units, heaters or the like, and when so used is preferably mounted behind a dashboard or instrument panel 26 indicated in dot-and-dash lines in FIGS. 2 and 3 and having a window 27 through which the markings on the indicator wheel 23 may be seen. The push-buttons are arranged to project through an opening 28 in the panel 26 for convenient operation.

Turning now to a more detailed description of the actuator device 16 the base member 14 comprises parallel side walls 30 and 31 between which the push-buttons 17 and 18 are disposed for reciprocation through power and return strokes. The side walls 30 and 31 are joined by a bottom portion 32 in which there is provided a circular depression 33, receiving the rotatable disk-like member or star wheel 21 over which the push-buttons are arranged to slide during their reciprocation. The cover member 15 is secured to the base member 14 as by screws 34 and 35 and has a down-turned flange or back portion 36.

The stem 29 conveniently has a flat side 38 and extends through a complementary opening 39 in the disk 21 and having a fiat side 40. The stem 20 will thereby be constrained to rotate together with the star wheel 21 upon rotation of the latter by ratcheting action of the pushbuttons 17 and 18.

The details of the push-buttons are best illustrated in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 and include a handle portion 42, and a socket 43 at the opposite end of each push-button. A pair of push-button return springs 44 are received in the sockets 43 and are retained in surrounding relation to a pair of guide pins 45, which pins are suitably secured to the flange portion 36 of the cover member 15 as by riveting or the like.

Each of the push-buttons 17 and 18 is provided with an upwardly extending projection or lug 47 which extends through one of a pair of slots or elongated openings 48 in the cover member 15. The projections or lugs 47 serve to limit the movement of the push-buttons 17 and 18 during the reciprocation thereof.

Each of the push-buttons is provided with a recess 50 connectin with a tapered through opening 51 defined by a vertical wall 52 and a sloping wall 53, the wall 52 serving as an abutment wall in a manner to appear hereinafter. A transverse groove 55 intersects with the recess 3 50 and accommodates a cross arm 56 of one of a pair of T-shaped pawls 58, best illustrated in FIG. 7.

The pawls 58 are each provided with a depending portion 59 which is adapted to extend into one of the tapered openings 51 of the push-buttons 17 and 18. The cross arms 56 of the pawls 58 are rounded on one side and flat on their other sides as indicated at 60 and 61 respectively. The cross arms 56 are adapted to cooperate with the transverse grooves 55 to provide a pivotal swinging support for the depending portions 59 extending through the tapered openings 51 of the push-buttons.

A flat leaf spring 63 is secured in each of the recesses 50 as by a rivet 64, and is arranged to bear against the flat side 61 of the T-shaped pawl 58 associated with the push-button, and the springs 63 serve to retain the T- shaped pawls 58 in their respective openings 51. The leaf springs 63 further cooperate with the flat sides 61 of the cross arms 56 urging the pawls 53 to assume the position shown in FIG. 4, with the depending portions 59 disposed against the vertical abutment Walls 52 of the openings 51.

The disk-like member or star wheel 21, illustrated in FIG. 8, has a plurality of circumferentially spaced flange projections 79 7t) on one side thereof and disposed in a radiating relation to the rotation axis of the wheel. Each of the projections 7t) 76, which may be conveniently struck up from the disk, have radially extending surfaces 71 and 72 which are adapted to cooperate with the T-shaped pawls 58. It will be observed that the ends 75 of the depending portions 59 of the pawls 53 extend below the lower surface 76 of the pushbuttons 17 and 18 and are illustrated in FIG. 4 as being in position to engage the surface 71 of the projection 7 of the disk 01' star wheel 21 upon inward reciprocation of the push-button 17. Inward movement of the pushbutton 17 will bring the end 75 of the pawl 58 associated therewith into contact with the surface 71, and continued inward movement of the push-button will move the projection 7t) until the lug 47 of the push-button engages the rear end of the slot 48 stopping its motion with the projection 70 assuming the position previously occupied by the projection 70*. During the inward working stroke of the push-button 17, the pawl 58 applies thrust to the projection 74) to rotate the wheel 21 and slides along this projection during such thrust engagement and wheel rotation.

Referring to FIG. 5, the device is there shown with the push-button 17 at a position during its return or outward stroke under the influence of its return spring 44. In this figure the projection 70 is now seen to be in the position previously occupied by the projection 70 and the projection 70 is engaged by the end 75 of the depending portion 59 of the pawl 58. The latter, pawl 53, is adapted to swing against the resilient biasing action of the leaf spring 63 toward the sloping or inclined wall 53 of the opening 51, thereby permitting the pawl to ride over the projection 70 during the return stroke of the push-button 17. Upon the completion of the outward or return stroke of the pushbutton 17 the pawl 58 will be resiliently urged into its rest position with the depending portion 59 thereof lying against the vertical abutment wall 52 of the opening 51.

When the push-buttons 17 and 18 are in their respective rest or outward positions as illustrated in FIG. 1, the depending portions 59 of the pawls 58 are disposed radially outwardly of the periphery 80 of the star wheel 21. Each of the pawls 58 is therefore out of engagement with the star wheel 21 and the latter is capable of being rotated a fraction of a turn upon reciprocation of either of the push-buttons 17 and 18 without interference or opposition by the pawl 58 associated with the other of the push-buttons. The described construction thereby permits selective step-by-step rotation of the disk 21, and of the stem 20, in either direction of rotation.

The disk 21 described herein is provided with 6 projec- 4 tions 76 70, and the disk or star wheel 21 will therefore be rotated only a fraction of a turn upon each reciprocation of a push button, the fraction being onesixth of a turn in this instance.

From the foregoing detailed description of an actuating device 10 embodying this invention, and from the accompanying drawings, it will now be apparent that there has been provided a novel and effective mechanism for selectively rotating the operating stem of a stem controlled device selectively in either direction, and by steps or increments of rotation. The construction described, utilizing swinging T-shaped pawls carried by reciprocable push-buttons, results in a particularly effective and smooth acting ratchet or stepping device which, because of the direct pushing action of the pawls and the absence of parts requiring precision fitting, lends itself to inexpensive and easy manufacture.

Although the invention has been described with somewhat detailed reference to a specific embodiment thereof it is understood that the invention is not limited thereby, but rather includes all those changes, modifications and adaptations as are reasonably embraced within the scope of the claims hereof.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. An actuator device comprising support means; a wheel mounted on said support means for rotation on a rotation axis and adapted for connection with a member to be rotatably driven; guideway means on said support means and extending in a direction transverse to said axis and ofiset therefrom; said guideway means providing a stroke path extending in a chordal relation across said wheel on one side thereof; push-button means comprising a push-button reciprocably operable is said guideway means and along said path through a work stroke and a return stroke; said wheel having circumferentially spaced projections on said one side thereof and disposed in a radiating relation to said rotation axis; said pushbutton having an opening therethrough transversely thereof, and groove means at the end of said opening remote from said wheel; an abutment on said push-button at the rear side of said opening with respect to movement of the push-button in the work stroke direction; pawl means comprising a substantially T-shaped pawl having a stem disposed in said opening, and a cross-arm on the stem and received in said groove means for swingably suspend ing said pawl in said opening; said cross-arm having a contact portion on the side thereof remote from said stem; and a leaf spring mounted on said push-button and effective against said contact portion for retaining said cross-arm in said groove means and for urging said pawl toward said abutment; said pawl having a free end portion projecting from said opening for thrust and ratcheting co-operation with said projections during said work and return strokes respectively; said free end portion being movable along one of said projections with a sliding and wedging engagement during said thrust co-operation and in response to the work stroke of said pushbutton for imparting rotation to said wheel.

2. An actuator device as defined in claim 1 wherein said wheel comprises a disk and said projections comprise fianges formed integral with said disk.

3. An actuator device as defined in claim 1 wherein said guideway means comprises parallel guideway portions on opposite sides of said axis, and said push-button means comprises a pair of said push-buttons operable in said guideway portions; said pawl means comprising pawls carried by the respective push-buttons and swingable relative thereto; the work stroke movement of one push-button being efiective to rotate said wheel a fraction of a turn in one direction, and the work stroke movement of the other push-button being effective to rotate said wheel a fraction of a turn in the opposite direction.

4. An actuator device as defined in claim 3 and comprising a pair of return springs effective against the respective push-buttons to cause the return strokes thereof for returning said push-buttons to rest positions; said pawls being normally maintained in engagement with their associated abutments by their associated leaf springs whereby said pawls are located out of the path of movement of said projections when the push-buttons are in said rest positions.

5. An actuator device comprising a base; a rotatable star wheel on said base and having circumferentially spaced radially extending projections on one side of the wheel and providing thrust surfaces thereon; first and second guideway means on said base and extending in a chordal relation across said one side of said wheel on opposite sides of the rotation axis of said wheel; first and second push-buttons reciprocably movable in said first and second guideway means; return spring means urging said push-buttons toward rest positions; said pushbuttons having openings therethrough and abutment means forming one side wall of said openings; pawl means comprising first and second T-shaped pawls having depending portions extending through said openings in said first and second push-buttons respectively; said pawls having cross-arms pivotally engaged with said pushbuttons and presenting flat surfaces; and leaf spring means attached to said push-buttons and bearing against said flat surfaces so as to urge said pawls toward a thrust position adjacent said abutment means but permitting swinging of the pawls away from the abutment means for ratcheting over said projections during return movement of said push-buttons by said return spring means; actuation of said first push-button in said first guideway means in opposition to said return spring means being efiective to engage said first pawl with a thrust surface of said wheel for rotating the wheel in one direction; actuation of said second push-button in said second guideway means in opposition to said return spring means being efiective to engage said second pawl with a thrust surface of said Wheel for rotating the Wheel in the opposite direction; and movement of said push-buttons in the return direction by said return spring means being effective to locate said pawls in positions for subsequent engagement with others of said surfaces for further rotation of said wheel in response to subsequent actuations of said push-buttons.

6. An actuator device as defined in claim 5 wherein said pawls are located outwardly of the path of circumferential movement of said projections when said pushbuttons are in said rest positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 668,909 Doran Feb. 26, 1901 776,970 Waldo Dec. 6, 1904 1,126,084 Reisbach Jan. 26, 1915 1,334,728 Wolters Mar. 23, 1920 1,366,131 Packwood Jan. 18, 1921 1,781,970 Benjafield Nov. 18, 1930 2,166,716 Chandler July 18, 1939 2,217,881 Allen Oct. 15, 1940 2,272,929 Barth Feb. 10, 1942 2,546,585 Caldwell Mar. 27, 1951 2,645,945 Homkes July 21, 1953 2,968,959 Emery Jan. 24, 1961 FOREIGN PATENTS 505,309 France July 28, 1920 

1. AN ACTUATOR DEVICE COMPRISING SUPPORT MEANS; A WHEEL MOUNTED ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR ROTATION ON A ROTATION AXIS AND ADAPTED FOR CONNECTION WITH A MEMBER TO BE ROTATABLY DRIVEN; GUIDEWAY MEANS ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND EXTENDING IN A DIRECTION TRANSVERSE TO SAID AXIS AND OFFSET THEREFROM; SAID GUIDEWAY MEANS PROVIDING A STROKE PATH EXTENDING IN A CHORDAL RELATION ACROSS SAID WHEEL ON ONE SIDE THEREOF; PUSH-BUTTON MEANS COMPRISING A PUSH-BUTTON RECIPROCABLY OPERABLE IS SAID GUIDEWAY MEANS AND ALONG SAID PATH THROUGH A WORK STROKE AND A RETURN STROKE; SAID WHEEL HAVING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED PROJECTIONS ON SAID ONE SIDE THEREOF AND DISPOSED IN A RADIATING RELATION TO SAID ROTATION AXIS; SAID PUSHBUTTON HAVING AN OPENING THERETHROUGH TRANSVERSELY THEREOF, AND GROOVE MEANS AT THE END OF SAID OPENING REMOTE FROM SAID WHEEL; AN ABUTMENT ON SAID PUSH-BUTTON AT THE REAR SIDE OF SAID OPENING WITH RESPECT TO MOVEMENT OF THE PUSH-BUTTON IN THE WORK STROKE DIRECTION; PAWL MEANS COMPRISING A SUBSTANTIALLY T-SHAPED PAWL HAVING A STEM DISPOSED IN SAID OPENING, AND A CROSS-ARM ON THE STEM AND RECEIVED IN SAID GROOVE MEANS FOR SWINGABLY SUSPENDING SAID PAWL IN SAID OPENING; SAID CROSS-ARM HAVING A CONTACT PORTION ON THE SIDE THEREOF REMOTE FROM SAID STEM; AND A LEAF SPRING MOUNTED ON SAID PUSH-BUTTON AND EFFECTIVE AGAINST SAID CONTACT PORTION FOR RETAINING SAID CROSS-ARM IN SAID GROOVE MEANS AND FOR URGING SAID PAWL TOWARD SAID ABUTMENT; SAID PAWL HAVING A FREE END PORTION PROJECTING FROM SAID OPENING FOR THRUST AND RATCHETING CO-OPERATION WITH SAID PROJECTIONS DURING SAID WORK AND RETURN STROKES RESPECTIVELY; SAID FREE END PORTION BEING MOVABLE ALONG ONE OF SAID PROJECTIONS WITH A SLIDING AND WEDGING ENGAGEMENT DURING SAID THRUST CO-OPERATION AND IN RESPONSE TO THE WORK STROKE OF SAID PUSHBUTTON FOR IMPARTING ROTATION TO SAID WHEEL. 